Canon has always been one step ahead of the pack when it comes to putting video in DSLRs. But the new tech in the Canon EOS 70D could change things forever.
The Canon EOS 70D uses a new 20.2-megapixel APS-C sensor. That spec might not sound all the remarkable from the outset, but the sensor's architecture is completely new, which allows the camera to achieve the fastest and most precise continuous autofocus while recording video that we've ever seen.
When recording video, DSLRs use sensor-based autofocus, rather than the optical autofocus sensors that you use when you're simply shooting photos using the viewfinder. Initially, sensor-based systems where just too slow to work continuously because they only used contrast ratios to find focus. By sacrificing a couple of photodiodes on the sensor to phase detection, the new hybrid system was able to do the work of finding focus fast enough that it was reasonable to call it effective.
Now this year, the 70D introduces a new phase-detection only system Canon calls Dual Pixel CMOS AF. That sounds fancy, and actually, it is. The new CMOS sensor's 20.2-megapixel resolution has been divided into 40.1 million-photodiode architecture so that you've basically got two diodes capturing light for each pixel.
Why? Because now there is a phase detection diode at every point on the sensor. Instead of just a few scattered about you've got a sensor peppered with phase detection sensors. (The two diodes at each pixel point synthesize, so you're not losing light sensitivity-at least, that's what Canon tells us.)
In practice, this new AF system is pretty remarkable.The speed and precision of the autofocus during video was fast and precise.
One of the nice things about the tech is that it gets rid of the old ""focus hunt"" that inches closer and closer to focus. Instead, the 70D's focus algorithms find the focus super fast and then slides the focal point smoothly into place.
The camera will be available in September for $1200 (body alone), $1349 (W/18-55mm kit lens), and $1549 (w/18-135mm kit lens).
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